Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region

VOLUME 1 Background Report

A joint project between the Sydney Catchment Authority and Parks and Wildlife Group of the Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW). Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM) Research and Data Program: Project No: RD01

Information and Assessment Section Metropolitan Branch Climate Change and Environment Protection Group Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) September 2007 Acknowledgements Ashton, Chris Chafer, Andrew Simson and Martin Krogh and all staff at the Warragamba and Cordeaux This project has been coordinated by Kylie Offices. Madden of the Biodiversity Survey and Data Parks and Wildlife Group, particularly Bob Conroy Group, Information and Assessment Section, and staff from the Kanangra, Nattai, Upper Metropolitan Branch, Climate Change and Mountains, Illawarra, Royal and Hawkesbury Area Environment Protection Group, DECC. offices. The project has involved a large number of The many private land holders who allowed access people. to their properties Information and Assessment Section The hardworking and dedicated volunteers who Julie Ravallion (Section Manager) assisted us throughout the project Daniel Connolly (Coordinator Biodiversity Survey Other Contributors: and Data Group) Thank you to all contributors to the DECC Atlas of Peter Ewin (GIS and Database Officer) NSW Wildlife. Many wildlife, pest species, land Project Team management or cultural heritage professionals Kylie Madden (Fauna Programs Officer) generously gave data or advice to improve the volumes, or particular species profiles and habitat Nick Corkish (Field Team Leader) models. They included Debbie Andrew, Steve Helen Achurch (Field Team Leader) Anyon-Smith, Dennis Ashton, Jack Baker, Chris Elizabeth Magarey (Field Team Leader) Banffy, Chris Chafer, Rob Close, Hal Cogger, Cumberland Bird Observers Club, Garry Daly, Alex Report Writing Dudley, Peggy Eby, Peter Ekert, Deryk Engel, Al Kylie Madden, Daniel Connolly, Peter Ewin Glen, Tom Grant, Ken Griffiths, Ron Haering, Brian Habitat mapping and Data Management Hawkins, Dion Hobcroft, Shaun Hooper, Robert Peter Ewin, Kylie Madden, Daniel Connolly Humphries, Dave Hunter, Helen Jessup, Martin Krogh, Brad Law, Tanya Leary, Frank Lemckert, Dan Map Production Lunney, Mike Letnic, Paul Mahon, Mike Mahony, Cate Ewin, Peter Ewin, Kylie Madden Fiona Mandelc, Bruce Mitchell, Shane Moloney, Proof Reading, Edits and Referencing Steve Parker, Harry Parnaby, Trent Penman, Rebecca Jones, Joshua Madden, Martin Schulz Michael Pennay, Brad Purcell, Matthew Richardson, Michael Roberts, Tony Saunders, Andrew Simson, Cover Design and Formatting Martin Schulz, Craig Shephard, Rick Shine, Mark Kerry Oakes Simon, Gerry Swan, Karen Thumm, Mick Todd, Field Surveyors Margaret Turton, Jonno Webb, Ross Wellington, Richard Wells, Sue Wesson, Peter West, Anne Special Areas Survey Team Williams, Narawan Williams, Ray Williams and Alan Helen Achurch, Nick Corkish (team leaders), Wilton. Alexander Dudley, Narawan Williams, Michael This report may be referenced as follows: Todd DECC (2007) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Biodiversity Survey Priorities Survey Team Greater Southern Sydney Region: Volume 1 - Elizabeth Magarey (Team Leader), Peter Ekert, Background Report. A joint project between the David O’Connor, Arthur White Sydney Catchment Authority and the Department of The following people also assisted with field work Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (DECC) between 2001-2004 under the Special Areas Strategic Plan of Chris Chafer, Debbie Andrew, Clive Barker, Management (SASPoM) by the Information and Daniel Connolly, Kylie Madden, Amy Rowles, Assessment Section, Metropolitan Branch, Climate Peter Ewin, Garry Daly, Barry Virtue, Sharon Change and Environment Protection Branch, DECC, Downes, Allison Mathews, Michael Pennay, Hurstville. Hair and Scat Analysis Photographs are held by DECC and are copyright of the photographer. To obtain a copy please contact Barbara Triggs the Bioregional Data Group Coordinator, DECC Bat Call Analysis Hurstville. For photos by Michael Todd visit Narawan Williams, Michael Pennay www.wildlifing.com Data Entry Cover Photos: Suzette Rodoreda, Rebecca Jones, Elizabeth Landsat Image of Greater Southern Sydney (NSW Magarey, Joshua Madden Department of Lands) Special thanks to: Green and Golden Bell Frog (Stuart Cohen/DECC) Staff of the Sydney Catchment Authority, in Eastern Grey Kangaroos in the Burragorang Valley particular Alan Benson, George Dodds, Ross (Narawan Williams) Wallis, Brian Waldron, Tony Kondek, Kirk Newport, Glen Caparero, Loretta Galleen, Dennis ISBN 978 1 74122 599 0 DECC 2007/470 Executive Summary The Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region comprises five technical reports and one general audience volume that document the native species of the region, their habitats, conservation status and key management issues. In addition, pest species and species that impact on water quality are identified and examined. Funded jointly by the Sydney Catchment Authority and the Department of Environment and Climate Change, this work has arisen from the need to understand the fauna values within the Warragamba and Metropolitan water catchments (known as Special Areas), as well as the surrounding National Parks and Nature Reserves. Combined, these areas cover almost two thirds of the study area and almost 85% of the remaining native vegetation cover. Sydney is faced with the unusual situation of extremely high-conservation value bushland and water catchment lying adjacent to outer-suburbs. The contribution these protected areas make to conserve the distinctive fauna of the region cannot be overstated and without them many species would no longer persist. The fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region is both diverse and unique. The rugged sandstone landscape that fringes the city supports a highly characteristic suite of birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs. These include a number of nationally and state listed threatened species, some of which are endemic to these environments. These animals have adapted to utilise the immense areas of dry, scrubby woodlands and the towering sandstone cliffs with their myriad of caves, cracks and overhangs. Hidden within this inhospitable terrain, rivers have incised wide valleys where grassy, rolling plains are home to great mobs of kangaroos, Emus and threatened woodland birds. In stark contrast to this, in the deep, sheltered gullies and along the Illawarra escarpment, ancient subtropical rainforests abound with catbirds and fruit- eating pigeons. Meanwhile, on the highest peaks and subalpine plateaux, mean annual temperatures are much lower, snow occasionally falls, and an altogether different assemblage of animals is found. It is this great diversity of environments that leads to the fantastic variety of animals found in the region. This project has found 446 different species of terrestrial vertebrate fauna live in the Greater Southern Sydney Region. Over 600 systematic survey sites have been completed for most fauna groups. As a result 25 000 new fauna records have been entered on the DECC’s publicly accessible database - the Atlas of NSW Wildlife, including 1237 records of 63 different threatened fauna species. This enormous increase in knowledge about rare and threatened species in Greater Southern Sydney has allowed conservation priorities to be reset at a regional level. This exercise has shown that priorities for the conservation of threatened species in the Greater Southern Sydney Region are different to NSW-wide priorities. Some species, such as the Regent Honeyeater and Booroolong Frog were found to be exceedingly rare, in line with their State and Federal listings. However other species, some of which are secure elsewhere in NSW, warrant equal attention as they are close to local extinction; for example the Long-nosed Potoroo. Meanwhile, five species listed as Vulnerable und